Life — February 18, 1886 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, February 14, 1886 This page features a Valentine's Day theme ("February Fourteenth" at bottom). The main illustration depicts a large valentine envelope or card overflowing with cherubs and celebratory figures, with a banner reading text that appears to reference a gift or romantic gesture. The decorative left border contains small circular vignettes with classical and allegorical scenes, typical of Life's ornamental design style. The magazine's masthead and title artwork at top show pastoral and mythological imagery. Without clearer OCR text identifying specific political figures or events referenced, the precise satirical target remains unclear. However, the valentine format suggests this may be commenting on romantic or social customs of 1886 New York society, or possibly a political figure being humorously "courted" through holiday sentiment.